The Mandalorian came as such a surprise for me, I didn't intend on watching it but I heard good things about it from others and, lo and behold, it's precisely the kind of show I want. It's essentially a found family story in a space western, just set in the Star Wars universe. That is right up my alley and I loved it.
It's interesting when people say that episodes 4, 5, and 6 were the weakest links because I don't necessarily agree. They might not have followed the same structure as the other episodes which, to be fair, might've felt off because of it, but this show was primarily very episodic and did focus on good elements of showing a bit of who the Mandalorian (Din Djarin) was as a character and what he's struggling with by trying to manage being on the run with the baby and still needing to keep getting money for essentials. I don't know, I think after rewatching them a number of times I've come to appreciate those episodes more with what it was trying to convey to the audience, especially about his character which, I think after watching the finale you get a better feel of how it all comes together. They might not have been as strong as the start or end of the season, but they still had their moments that I liked and felt were good for the story overall. I will say, though, that while it had good moments I do think that the fifth episode is probably the weakest of the season, mostly because I think Ming-Na Wen was criminally underutilized in the episode, and the cliffhanger of who approached her at the end was never really revealed. I do hope that somehow she isn't dead and gets to return in the second season, because otherwise that was just a waste of a good character, imho.
I was really hoping the finale would be the end of the helmet but alas. Maybe next season. Pascal is doing a wonderful job using his body to act, but it seems like a waste to keep him hidden away forever.
Part of me agrees, while another part of me knows that this all part of the character journey for him. Din is incredibly dedicated to the Mandalorian Creed, and while he is opening up more and more, bit by bit, he's probably not there yet to consider taking it off. Though he might do so for the baby, since he is now officially his father and that could be acceptable. (Although we don't know the nature of the Creed and how deep that goes, but I'm guessing that the more he'll open up the more likely he'll probably be helmetless, at least only around the child and that we, the audience, can see those soft, tender moments between the two.) I see the armor and helmet as not just part of the Mandalorian culture and religion, but also symbolism for his trauma and parts of himself he wants hidden. And since saving the child and being with him, Din has allowed himself to be more open. So yeah, it'll take time, but it'll be an incredible journey when we get to that point.
I have to admit, I was uncertain that I even wanted to see his face before the finale aired because the aspect of that made it seem like an intrusion, but I quickly got over that feeling after the finale which was a brilliant loophole. Plus, even just a few seconds of seeing his face, seeing all that vulnerability and emotion, that was just fantastically acted by Pedro. He does the voice and body language of the character well, that I know that we'll be getting to see his face down the road. Just not immediately, which is fine. Give me that slow burn of Din realizing that he can let his personal guard down every once. Let us, the audience, see him in these private moments. Since I saw a meta that says that the face reveal was more for the audience to emotionally connect with him as we've been doing all season long, and that just makes me even more hopeful that we'll get more of those small moments here and there along the way.
I'm really rambling now, but I just love this show and his character so much. I can't wait for the second season. I know the mission is to find the child's home planet and his people (that we may finally get to know the race of Yoda?), but I also want more Mandalorian lore, I want to know more about the culture, who of the clan from the covert survived, about the Mando that saved Din, more about the Great Purge, and I really want to know how the Darksaber is going to fit into everything and whether Din is going to find a way to reclaim it for his people? There is legit so much they can do and explore, it makes me excited. :D
It's interesting when people say that episodes 4, 5, and 6 were the weakest links because I don't necessarily agree. They might not have followed the same structure as the other episodes which, to be fair, might've felt off because of it, but this show was primarily very episodic and did focus on good elements of showing a bit of who the Mandalorian (Din Djarin) was as a character and what he's struggling with by trying to manage being on the run with the baby and still needing to keep getting money for essentials. I don't know, I think after rewatching them a number of times I've come to appreciate those episodes more with what it was trying to convey to the audience, especially about his character which, I think after watching the finale you get a better feel of how it all comes together. They might not have been as strong as the start or end of the season, but they still had their moments that I liked and felt were good for the story overall. I will say, though, that while it had good moments I do think that the fifth episode is probably the weakest of the season, mostly because I think Ming-Na Wen was criminally underutilized in the episode, and the cliffhanger of who approached her at the end was never really revealed. I do hope that somehow she isn't dead and gets to return in the second season, because otherwise that was just a waste of a good character, imho.
I was really hoping the finale would be the end of the helmet but alas. Maybe next season. Pascal is doing a wonderful job using his body to act, but it seems like a waste to keep him hidden away forever.
Part of me agrees, while another part of me knows that this all part of the character journey for him. Din is incredibly dedicated to the Mandalorian Creed, and while he is opening up more and more, bit by bit, he's probably not there yet to consider taking it off. Though he might do so for the baby, since he is now officially his father and that could be acceptable. (Although we don't know the nature of the Creed and how deep that goes, but I'm guessing that the more he'll open up the more likely he'll probably be helmetless, at least only around the child and that we, the audience, can see those soft, tender moments between the two.) I see the armor and helmet as not just part of the Mandalorian culture and religion, but also symbolism for his trauma and parts of himself he wants hidden. And since saving the child and being with him, Din has allowed himself to be more open. So yeah, it'll take time, but it'll be an incredible journey when we get to that point.
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I'm really rambling now, but I just love this show and his character so much. I can't wait for the second season. I know the mission is to find the child's home planet and his people (that we may finally get to know the race of Yoda?), but I also want more Mandalorian lore, I want to know more about the culture, who of the clan from the covert survived, about the Mando that saved Din, more about the Great Purge, and I really want to know how the Darksaber is going to fit into everything and whether Din is going to find a way to reclaim it for his people? There is legit so much they can do and explore, it makes me excited. :D
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